Downtown Grand, Las Vegas review: Value for money off Fremont Street

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This was published 8 years ago

Downtown Grand, Las Vegas review: Value for money off Fremont Street

By Craig Platt
The rooftop pool at the Downtown Grand, Las Vegas.

The rooftop pool at the Downtown Grand, Las Vegas.

The place

Downtown Grand, Las Vegas

The location

The Downtown Grand is a good value option off Las Vegas' famous Fremont Street.

The Downtown Grand is a good value option off Las Vegas' famous Fremont Street.

The Downtown Grand is located in "old" Vegas, just off the famous Fremont Street. It's set far enough back from the rowdy nightlife of the city's original casino strip, but close enough to take just a few seconds to walk there. Fremont Street generally offers better value accommodation than Las Vegas Boulevard (aka The Strip) but it can take a long time for the regular bus to make its way between the two districts.

The space

The Downtown Grand is a reasonably large hotel by the standards of a normal city, with 629 rooms in two towers of 18 and 25 storeys. But here in Las Vegas, a hotel of this size is virtually a boutique in a city where the mega-resorts typically have rooms numbered in the thousands, not hundreds. The property's casino is small and quiet by Vegas standards, but there are plenty of bigger, busier options nearby. The rooftop pool deck is a large, sunny spot with plenty of lounges and a bar.

A City Suite at the Downtown Grand.

A City Suite at the Downtown Grand.

The room

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I stay in two rooms during my visit, starting in a Premium room before moving into a larger City Suite. The Premium room is spacious, with a king-size bed, two armchairs, a desk and a walk-in robe. Wi-Fi is included (sort of – see Essentials below). The bathroom is compact but fine, with a large shower but no bath. There's no mini bar or tea or coffee facilities (a common problem in US hotels). Given the starting price for these rooms though, the value for money is excellent. The City Suite is similar in look and feel, but significantly larger, with a couch, two toilets and a larger bathroom (though still no tub). The biggest problem with the rooms is the noise levels coming from Fremont Street and the bars on 3rd Street outside the hotel (the fact that earplugs are provided next to the beds in each room are a clue this is a problem). Fremont Street features an open air stage and during my stay a loud outdoor event is also happening right outside the hotel. If you're in Vegas to party (and the area was not noisy outside the weekend) and planning to stay out late, it's not likely to be an issue.

The food

A Premium room at the Downtown Grand.

A Premium room at the Downtown Grand.

There's only one restaurant within the property itself, the S + O, off the casino floor, which does a variety of standard fare (burgers, fish and chips and the like) as well as an all day breakfast, all at a reasonable price. Just outside the hotel are several other options including the Triple George Grill, a classic bar and steakhouse with wooden booths and an extensive menu of spirits. For something more casual there's the popular Pizza Rock, which serves enormous, New York style pizzas both for diners eating in and by the slice takeaway. The Commissary, a casual cafe next to the hotel, offers free tea and coffee to Downtown Grand guests in the morning.

Stepping out

Fremont Street is where Vegas began in 1905 and the area is full of fascinating history. A recent addition to the area, next door to the Downtown Grand, is the Mob Museum, detailing the sordid history of how gambling and vice became the foundation from which the city grew. The Fremont Street Experience, the covered-over section of the street filled with neon screens, large casinos, bars, restaurants and various tourist traps, is worth experiencing to get a taste of a less glitzy, unpolished side of the city.

The verdict

Its proximity to Fremont Street it both a blessing and a curse, due to the noise, but if you're looking to spend a few nights hitting the tables and bars of old Vegas, the Downtown Grand is worth considering – particularly if price is an issue. You wouldn't find a hotel in Australia with rooms this large, clean and comfortable for this kind of money.

Highlight

The pool is a great place to enjoy the sun and relax after a hard day's night.

Lowlight

If you're there on the weekend, expect it to be noisy.

Essentials

The Downtown Grand hotel, 206 N. 3rd Street, Las Vegas.

Rooms at the Downtown Grand start from $US39 for a Deluxe (standard) room. Premium rooms start at $US59, and City Suites at $US119.

Note: Like most properties in Las Vegas, the Downtown Grand charges a daily "resort fee" ($US22), ostensibly to cover extra services such as internet usage, newspapers, bottled water and like, but since these fees are not optional, they need to be factored into the room rate.

See downtowngrand.com.

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